SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

GENERAL SESSIONS

OPENING KEYNOTE

John Hopkins Hospital’s Response to a Shooting Incident

Howard Gwon, Senior Director, Office of Emergency Management, Johns Hopkins Health System and JHU School of Medicine

This session will discuss the hospital response procedures implemented during an actual shooter event and communicate the lessons learned and associated procedures to enhance efficient and effective response for future events.

CLOSING KEYNOTE

Enhancing Communication Strategies

Mike Kutzke, Training Consultant, Professional Training Services

Do you communicate effectively and clearly? Do your communication patterns enhance or limit your personal and professional success?  In a fun and fast-paced learning environment, this presentation is designed to help you identify the basic building blocks necessary to communicate successfully in emergency response environments. The presentation will focus on the impact of our communication patterns in the process of achieving goals and priorities when communicating with the community and other agencies. Please come prepared to smile, laugh and enjoy the training experience.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION A

1A H1N1 Survivor

Kristin Brandt, Educator, Centra Care Health System- St Cloud Hospital

I will walk the participants through my journey of working in healthcare during an H1N1 “epidemic,” contracting H1N1, and now my long road of recovery.  It is more of a personal patient perspective of our everyday lives as healthcare professionals. 

2A HazMat/Decon

Greg Hayes, Instructor/ Emergency Planner, Emergency Preparedness Resource Group

This course will cover the basics for hazardous materials response and the need for emergency and technical decontamination.  Power Point as well as videos will be utilized to illustrate the need for agencies as well as individuals to become more aware of hazardous materials within their communities and the need to be prepared.

3A Intro to Continuity of Operations

Erin Hausauer, Emergency Management Planner, Stearns County Emergency Management

This session will identify and expand on the components for continuity of operations planning.  You will learn about developing a framework to begin continuity of operations planning for healthcare facilities.

4A Health Care Safety

Ron Anderson, Industrial Hygienist, Minnesota OSHA

During this session, you will gain a greater understanding of Minnesota OSHA operations, enforcement and health and safety regulations and how to be in compliance with these regulations.

5A Lab Continuity of Operations

Nathan Kendrick, State Laboratory Training Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Health

A wide range of emergencies and disasters, both large and small, can disrupt critical hospital functions including clinical laboratory testing. This session will illustrate how clinical laboratories are incorporated into the larger HSPP program, and introduce the concept of continuity of operations planning in the clinical laboratory setting as a way to prepare for and mitigate emergency incidents. The basic components of a continuity of operations plan (COOP) will be described, as well as resources for creating, exercising, and maintaining a COOP.

SESSION B

1B Infection Control Review

Joan Cook, Infection Prevention and Control Manager, Sanford Health – Fargo Region

This session will discuss infection prevention and control challenges including public reporting, resources and recommended practices for the prevention of health care associated infections with an emphasis on multi-drug resistant organisms.

2B Responding to Safety and Security Threats in the Workplace

Jeffrey Oxton, Police Sergeant, St. Cloud Police Department
Bill Becker, Director, Security and Safety, CentraCare Health System

This course discusses the general issue of safety and security in the workplace and how staff/employees can best respond to incidents involving safety/security threats.  The threats or issues addressed will range from dealing with difficult patrons to dealing with the most extreme situations such as active shooters or hostage takers.  The discussion will focus on coordinating responses with local law enforcement, and developing sound policies and procedures geared at addressing safety and security threats at all levels.   

3B Crisis Communications

Jeanine Nistler, Communications Director, CentraCare Health System

What do you do when the unthinkable happens? Share as much as you can, as soon as you can, with employees and the media. “Crisis Communications” presenter Jeanine Nistler will use real-life examples to help you prepare for managing a big story.

4B After the Flood- Our Experience and Lessons Learned

Lt. Bryan Green, Emergency Manager, Clay County Emergency Management
Kristina Hansen, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Clay County Public Health
Bob Dablow, Physical Plant/Safety Director, Golden Living Center—Moorhead
Mikenzi Hebel, Administrator, New Richland Care Center

Flood Preparedness and Response has become an annual event in Minnesota.  The presenters will discuss Clay County’s efforts in preparing for and responding to annual spring flooding.  The presenters will also demonstrate what is learned from year to year due to flooding has contributed to an All-Hazard planning and response.  The presentation will include information about the facilities profile, community, flood experience, resident care, and how they achieved a successful evacuation as well as a timely re-opening of the facility.  They will also discuss the timeframe they went through for evacuation and repair as well as the evacuation policy and things they would do differently in the future.  They will share photos from the flood.

5B Continuity of Operations Lab Scenarios

Nathan Kendrick, State Laboratory Training Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Health

In this interactive session, participants will discuss the different components of a continuity of operations plan as they apply to a mock clinical laboratory using a set of scenarios based on real-world events. Discussion elements will include internal and external communications, evacuation/transfer of service, prioritization of testing, policies and procedures, and staffing issues relating to emergencies in the clinical laboratory setting.

SESSION C

1C Best Practices & Lessons Learned –– Wadena Tornado

Allen Smith, EMS Manager & Safety Officer Tri-County Hospital, Tri-County Hospital

This session will discuss the lessons learned from the Wadena 2010 F-4 Tornado as it relates to hospital and EMS emergency preparedness.

2C Leadership & Decision Making in Emergency Management
Eric Waage, Military Officer, Minnesota National Guard (full-time) and Anoka County Emergency Management (on-call)

The critical requirement for leadership in emergency management will be a central theme of this session. The ability of advancing technology to aid in crisis decision-making will be discussed.  We will also consider the possibility that this same technology can erode and undermine leadership unless used properly.

3C Making the HSEEP Leap: Diving in to Exercise Design

Barbara Lundgren, Healthcare Systems Preparedness Planner, Minnesota Department of Health

This presentation will discuss the basics of exercise design and development, including HSEEP requirements and After Action Reports and Improvement Plans.

4C Radiation Incidents

Sherrie Flaherty, Radioactive Materials Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Health

In this session we will discuss some of the unique aspects of radiation response.  We will review previous responses to a few radiation incidents and lessons learned.

5C MN Responds: Incident Command, Practical Application

Cynthia Heltunen, Public Health Education, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Benton County Human Services

Incident Command is one of the requirements of the national Medical Reserve Corps for all Volunteers, regardless of their job role.  Attendees will review the Incident Command Structure and learn about the application to Public Health Response during floods, flus, and Operation Thunder.